Every person who loves watching cricket cannot forget India’s historic series win down under. The Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-2021 in Australia is India’s one of the best series win ever. Based on the series win, a streaming platform Voot has brought a four-episode documentary Bandon Mein Tha Dum that will make you relive those thrilling and gripping moments. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the documentary is narrated by a versatile actor Jimmy Shergill. Many cricketers including Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj also appeared and shared their experiences about the tour. From Australia’s side, their then captain Tim Paine and fast bowler Pat Cummins recalled the series.
Bandon Mein Tha Dum Review
Neeraj Pandey has done a good job in bringing out those emotions and thrill again from the epic series. Jimmy Shergill’s voiceover narrating the epic tale is good but could be more intense. The reason why I am saying this is because in cricket we are used to hearing some outstanding voices like Tony Greig, Ravi Shastri, Ian Gould, etc. Remember the line, ‘Dhoni finishes off in style! India lifts the world cup after 28 years.’ I know you can imagine the picture with the voice of Ravi Shastri. That intensity is somewhere missing. But still, it is worth a watch for cricket lovers. Ajinkya Rahane, who led the team India after Adelaide Test for the next three Tests has shared some lesser-known stories from the dressing room.
Episode 1: Skyfall
The four-episode documentary starts with India’s lowest point in cricket. A Pink ball Test match in Adelaide in which India got all out for just 36 runs. India took a lead in the first innings, but India’s second innings collapsed as no one had ever imagined. In the episode, Ajinkya Rahane recalls how the run-out of Virat Kohli has changed the momentum of the game and shifted towards the mighty Aussies. Virat Kohli was on paternity leave after the first Test. Mohammed Shami got injured. The episode is the build-up of how India fought back after the horrid Test match. Ajinkya Rahane shares how the media and many ex-cricketers and cricket pundits predicted India’s 4-0 loss in the series. He said that the Aussies were celebrating like they have won the series. But for us, the series was about to start in Melbourne.
Episode 2: You Only Live Twice
India entered the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne with new energy. Though Team India was without the services of their best players Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami, India knows how to fight back. In the documentary, Ajinkya Rahane shared that he brought Rishabh Pant into the playing XI because of the left-right combination. Team India made a remarkable comeback in the second Test match in Melbourne. The stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane scored a 100 and India won the Test match. In Bandon Mein Tha Dum, it is revealed that Ajinkya Rahane was not fully fit to bat because of the severe back strain. But not only did he bat but also he scored a century. His century made Team India win and it was one of the greatest comebacks.
Episode 3: A View To Kill
The third episode takes you to Sydney Test. Rohit Sharma was back after completing his quarantine. The third Test match ended in a draw, thanks to Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari’s marathon display of batting. The documentary describes how the series was career-changing for young Rishabh Pant. India was planning to chase the target of 407 in the fourth innings with Rishabh Pant and Chesteshwar Pujara batting. Bandon Mein Tha Dum reveals how these two complement each other.
In the documentary, Rishabh Pant reveals that he was not aware that he was at 97, it was non-striker Cheteshwar Pujara who told him to be extra careful and go for a century. Rishabh said that I came into two mindsets and that led to his wicket. After Rishabh, Cheteshwar also got out. Ajinkya Rahane revealed that in Sydney the team was not allowed to roam anywhere. They can only go to the ground and come back to their hotel rooms. He said that after the loss at Melbourne, Australia has started playing mind games.
India was also not far behind. Ravindra Jadeja got injured while batting in the first innings. But, he was seen wearing gloves at the dugout and showing the Aussies that if needed he will come to bat. Hanuma Vihari pulled his hamstring and it was a Grade II tear. Ravichandran Ashwin was also injured. But the duo fought hard against world-class Australian bowling and saved the Test match for India. The document displayed the emotions and frustration of the Australian players admitted by Tim Paine and Pat Cummins in the episode. In the documentary, Rishabh Pant said that though the team was celebrating a draw, but he wanted a win because the win is a win.
Episode 4: License To Kill
The final Test was at Gabba, Brisbane. The same Gabba where Australia has not lost a Test match since 1988. The Indian team was without the services of their players Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Hanuma Vihari due to injuries. Ajinkya Rahane revealed in the documentary that he has literally counted players in the bus to make sure that yes we have 11 players who can take the field. Mohammed Siraj, who made his debut in the series was leading the Indian bowling lineup.
The series shows how India’s inexperienced bowlers bowled well and restricted Australia to 369 in the first innings. Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar scored the 50s and no one was expecting from them. On the last day, India was chasing over 320. India found a different hero in a different session. The first session was all about Shubman Gill. He scored 91. Rishabh Pant told in the documentary that he and Shubman Gill wants to win the Test anyhow at Gabba. In the second session, Chesteshwar Pujara has shown tremendous grit and determination. He was getting hit with balls all over his body, but he did not give up.
Rishabh Pant came in the second session and started the partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara, Mayank Agarwal, and Washington Sundar. His unbeaten 89, did the unthinkable. India brought an end to Australia’s 32-year-long unbeaten streak at The Gabba. India won the series 2-1 after getting all out at just 36 runs in the first Test.
Overall Verdict
The series’ final episode was the perfect tribute to India’s remarkable victory. Ravichandran Ashwin steals the show with his terrific one-liners. Bandon Mein Tha Dum also brought Mohammed Siraj’s emotional side as he has lost his father and even faced racist comments from some of the Australian fans. Paddy Upton, who worked with Team India before as a fitness coach also talked about the mental toughness of the Indian players in the series. Rishabh Pant describes it as one of the best moments of his life. Ajinkya Rahane became emotional at the end of the episode and recalled the proud moment of lifting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bandon Mein Tha Dum is one of the best cricketing documentaries that will make you relive India’s historic series win down under. Do watch it if you are a cricket lover. It will not disappoint you.
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